CHICAGO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A "swine flu bandit" who wore a surgical mask while robbing banks has been arrested in Chicago, the FBI said.
Matthew Mahoney, 28, of Chicago was caught by the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force as he was about to attempt his 10th heist earlier this week, the bureau told the Chicago Tribune.
In earlier holdups, he was masked and told employees he had or was recovering from swine flu.
Agents were inside a First American Bank branch south of the Loop, which was hit in September, when they saw Mahoney standing outside. He matched the robber's description and clothes, the FBI said.
Mahoney had a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in his coat pocket but was arrested without incident.
He is suspected in nine holdups, but was charged in a federal complaint Wednesday with one count of bank robbery for Saturday's robbery of a Chase Bank branch downtown, during which he escaped with more than $55,000.
He was ordered held without bail until a court appearance on Tuesday.
